NASCAR officials in Daytona Beach, Fla., have announced the list of eligible competitors for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout.

The 34th annual season-opening event, which is a fan favorite for NASCAR fans, will launch Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012. The event starts at 8:10 p.m. and will air live on FOX Sports and MRN Radio.

The criteria for the non-points race is based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having been active in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during the 2011 season:

The field follows the pace car prior to the start of the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Courtesy photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR).

“The criteria for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout ensures race fans that the best NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will battle for a coveted victory on the historic high banks,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “Throughout its long history, the Budweiser Shootout has produced plenty of fireworks on the track and race fans can expect another exciting star-studded night of racing as we kick off the new NASCAR season.”

“The 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona has all of the ingredients to be one of the most exciting races in the event’s 30-plus year history,” said Rob McCarthy, vice president, Budweiser. “We can’t think of a better way to kick off a new season than by continuing this great tradition and watching the best drivers in NASCAR battle it out under the lights at Daytona.”

“By taking the top 25 competitors in last year’s driver points and combine that with former race winners at Daytona, you have all the ingredients for an extremely deep and talented field of drivers for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “When you take a look at the roster of drivers that this entails, I have to believe this is one of the most competitive fields that have ever been assembled for this event.”

The 2011 shootout drivers wave on stage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Courtesy photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR).

The Budweiser Shootout will be a 75-lap event (187.5 miles) and will consist of two segments – 25 and 50 laps. Officials said that both green-flag laps and yellow-flag laps will count and between segments there will be a 10-minute pit stop to allow for teams to pit to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will also be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup event. In addition, all work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Officials also said that changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

The starting positions will be determined by a blind-draw at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

Tickets for the Budweiser Shootout will start at $39 and will be available starting in January. Admission is free for children 12 and under. Officials said that tickets can be purchased for all 2012 Speedweeks events including the Budweiser Shootout online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.